Types of Saltwater Fishing Boats

So you know what type of saltwater fishing boat is best for you. Odds are it will be one of these:~

A small fishing boat of the traditional kind for inshore fishing, capable of being kept on a trailer and towed behind the family car;

A small trailerablefishing boat

A centre console fishing boat, similarly capable of being kept on a trailer and towed behind the family car, but with more fishing space and greater hull speed;

A small centre-consolefishing boat

Along the same lines, an inflatable fishing boat - often known as a RHIB (a Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat);

A sport fishing boat suitable for fishing further offshore, and needing a four wheel trailer and a 4x4 SUV to tow it;

Getting really serious now, an offshore fishing boat for extended trips over the horizon in search of large ocean gamefish

Hull Shapes

Displacement Hulls ~ The term 'displacement' relates to the volume
of water displaced by the hull, the weight of which is equivalent to the
all-up weight of the boat. Unlike planing hulls, of which the following
three are all examples, displacement hulls don't 'unstick' and rise up
and skim across the surface of the water when maximum power is applied.

These
hulls provide a comfortable, sedate ride when under way but roll
noticeably when at anchor. They have a maximum speed in relation to
their length which no amount of additional power can overcome.

Deep Vee Hulls ~ You can really get going in one of these. Although
they're not wonderful performers at slow speeds, once the throttle has
been opened sufficiently to 'unstick' them they plane readily.

Speed
is no longer related to the length of the hull, effective displacement
is reduced (there's much less of the hull in the water), surface
friction decreases, the motor can be throttled back and fuel consumption
decreases. Unlike the next hull shape, deep vee hulls slice through the
waves - they don't slam. OK, so I'm a fan.

Cathedral Hulls ~ These come up on the plane very easily, even more
readily than the deep vee hulls. But they slam heavily when being driven
into seas - so much so that the helmsman is often forced to throttle
back. Then, at low speed, they fall into displacement mode - and they're
then very poor performers.

But at anchor, they don't roll very
much at all which makes them very popular with anglers - in good
conditions that is. But when the going gets tough ...

Catamaran Hulls ~ Providing these are built with a pair of slim
hulls, rather than wide ones optimised for maximum accommodation, they
can be propelled quickly and comfortably through the water with moderate
power.

At anchor they are super-stable, which together with
their expansive deck area makes them very popular with charter sea
anglers as all-round saltwater fishing boats.

But seamanship is far too big a subject to be dealt with properly on a
website like this one about saltwater fishing - but there's this book Seamanship for Sea Anglers. which covers the subject thoroughly.

So if you're a fishing boat owner and feel that you really ought to
know more about seamanship and navigation, I would urge you to read it.